Why Go Hybrid?

An Introduction to global energy issues and how hybrid vehicles could help with the crisis

What is the problem?

Fossil fuels & the Energy Crisis

Politics Environment

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Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels- hydrocarbon deposits, such as petroleum, coal, or natural gas, derived from living matter of a previous geologic time and used for fuel

The amount of fossil fuels is limited due to the lengthy process of forming them

Fossil fuels, when used, create emissions that are harmful to the environment

Fossil fuels are a Nonrenewable Energy Source Americans are most dependent on #1Oil, #2 Coal, and #3

Natural Gas

Peak Oil

Peak Oil-point where oil extraction reaches its peak and the supply begins to decline

Have we reached peak oil?– We can only speculate

Bad News!– We won’t know until after the fact– We have no way of knowing when we reach peak

oil until it is too late and supplies begin to run out

http://money.cnn.com/2004/11/02/markets/peak_oil/

An example of a peak oil estimate from the Energy Information Administration (EIA)

The BIG Question: When will we run out of our

nonrenewable energy?

Predications range between 2074-2111 We need to plan now Develop alternative fuels Decrease reliance on fossil fuels

http://www.spe.org/specma/binary/images/2919957WORLDGASRESERVES.gif

Social Issues

U.S. politics and international relations U.S. demand for oil forces it to buy oil from other nations Dependency for oil puts the nation at risk during wartime Decreasing availability of oil is a huge problem for

developing nations that are very dependent on fossil fuels Developing nations do not have the money to develop

alternatives to fossil fuels By using hybrids we become less reliant on other nations!

What do we do?

Find an alternative fuel? Develop a more efficient way of using

current fuel? Keep living life like nothing is wrong?

Why go hybrid?

Vehicle Type

Base Fuel

Fuel Processing

EngineWell-to-Wheel Efficiency, %

Iso-Octane - Spark Ignition 16.1 - 19.4

Diesel - Diesel 21.4 - 24.7

Iso-Octane -Spark Ignition, Optimal Hybrid

24.9 - 29.5

Diesel -Diesel,

Optimal Hybrid32.3 - 37.1

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle

MethaneIndustrial Steam Reforming into

Hydrogen

Hydrogen Fuel Cell

31.9 - 40.8

Conventional

Hybrid Vehicle

Cost Time

$ Now

>$ Now- 5 Years

*Total Fuel Cycle Impacts of Advanced VehiclesStodolsky, Gaines, Marshal, An, Eberhart

$$$$$$ 10-20 Years

To go hybrid or not to go hybrid…

Some people feel switching to hybrid vehicles is the answer to the energy crisis

Others are not so sure hybrids are the answer

Now let us compare the pro-hybrid and no-hybrid groups

GO hybrid!

Tax incentives– The Federal tax incentive can be thousands of $– An individual in the 27% tax bracket can save $500/yr– Some state and local gov’ts have developed their own

incentives Free parking for hybrid owners in Los Angeles, CA

Fuel efficiency – Hybrids can be more efficient than IC vehicles but the driver

needs to be a responsible driver

Go hybrid!

Hybrids run cleaner– Burn less fuel, therefore create fewer emissions– Reduce GH gases up to 90%– Some hybrids can run solely on their electric

engines, creating no tailpipe emissions at all

Go hybrid!!

Look like normal vehicles– Lexus RX 400h– Honda Accord

Hybrid– Ford Escape

Hybrid SUV

Honda Accord Hybrid, http://autoweb.drive.com.au/cms/A_101888/newsarticle.html

GO hybrid!!

Lower dependence on foreign oil

Hybrids run quieter Feel good factor

– Doing your part to reduce energy crisis

– Save $$ in a time of rising gas prices

NO hybrid! – A different view

Some drawbacks to hybrid vehicles exist To be an informed citizen, one should be

aware of other perspectives on this issue

NO hybrid!

Hydride-nickel batteries– Heavy– Costly– No plan for disposal

Hybrids are expensive– Consider both U.S. and other nations– What are developing nations supposed to do who may not

be able to afford the technology?

Tax breaks will stop by 2007

NO hybrid!

Hybrids are expensive– Consider both U.S. and other nations– What are developing nations supposed to do who

may not be able to afford the technology?– Brings up a lot of issues with foreign aid– U.S. cannot develop hybrid technology in a

bubble

NO hybrid!

Long wait lists to buy hybrid Hybrids weigh up to 300 lbs more than IC

vehicles– Increased weight results in lost horsepower

Reliability Unknown

Conclusions

An alternative to traditional IC cars should be developed for several reasons– Energy crisis– Environmental – Cost of oil

Want to learn how a hybrid works?

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